§ 113-243. Definitions.

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Berm means manmade earth contoured so as to form a mound above the general elevation of the adjacent ground or surface and designed to provide visual interest, screen undesirable view and/or decrease noise.

Buffer means a combination of physical space and vertical elements such as plants, berms, fences, or walls, whose purpose is to separate and screen incompatible land uses from one another.

Caliper means the diameter of a tree measured at breast height (DBH) which is approximately 4½ feet above the ground.

Canopy or shade tree means any tree grown specifically for its shade. The term "canopy or shade tree" usually applies to large trees with spreading canopies. Canopy trees normally grow to a minimum overall height of 30 feet and an average mature crown spread of 25 feet. Oaks, maples, ashes, lindens, and elms are examples canopy/shade trees. Canopy trees shall be a minimum of 2.5 inches caliper DBH.

Clear trunk means the distance between the top of the root ball and the point of the trunk where lateral branching begins.

Commercial means all uses in RPO, CBD, GCN, GCC, C-1, and C-2 zoning districts and commercial development in a PUD zoning district.

Common area means that area which will be maintained by a homeowners association, city service area, or other form of cooperative organization.

Decorative turf means turf used purely for ornamental purposes having no use other than aesthetics.

Drip line means the vertical line running through the outermost portion of the tree crown projected vertically to the ground.

Fully shielded lighting means lighting constructed in such a manner that all light emitted by the fixture, either directly from the lamp or a diffusing element, or indirectly by reflection or refraction from any part of the luminaire, is projected below the horizontal. Such fixtures usually have a flat, horizontally oriented lens and opaque (usually metal) sides. They are often described as shoebox luminaries if the luminaire has a predominantly rectangular form. Fixtures that either have reflecting surfaces or lenses (clear or prismatic) located below the lamp and visible from the side or above and fixtures that can be mounted such that the shielding is ineffective are not considered fully shielded lighting.

Groundcover means a low-growing plant, including turf grass, that, by the nature of its growth characteristics, completely covers the ground and does not usually exceed two feet in height.

Hat racking or topping means pruning a tree in such a way that the majority of limbs are removed and the tree is left with only a trunk and the stumps of a few primary limbs, with little or no foliage or other trimming or pruning that has the effect of preventing a tree from attaining its natural height and/or shape.

Hedge means a row of evenly spaced shrubs planted to form a continuous unbroken visual screen.

Industrial means all uses in M-1 and M-2 zoning districts and all industrial uses in a PUD zoning district.

Landscape means vegetative and inert materials, including, but not limited to, grass, sod, shrubs, vines, hedges, trees, flowers, berms and complementary structural landscape architectural features such as rocks, fountains, sculpture, decorative walls and tree wells or other hardscape features.

Landscaped area means land area to be provided with landscape.

Landscaped strip or landscaped island means required landscaped areas containing ground cover, shrubs, trees and/or other landscape used to divide parking areas into individual bays.

Moisture sensing switch means a device which has the ability to shut off an automatic irrigation controller after receiving a determined amount of rainfall.

Mulch means nonliving organic materials such as wood chips that is customarily placed around the base of trees, shrubs and groundcovers for the purpose of retaining moisture and retarding weed infestation and soil erosion. Also, mulch is used in pathways and play areas.

Native or naturalizing plant species means plant species native to the region or introduced which once established are capable of sustaining growth and reproduction under local climatic conditions, without supplemental watering.

Nonresidential means, pursuant to land use category headings reflected in Schedule B, Permitted Uses, in these land development regulations, all commercial, transient lodging and entertainment, automotive, miscellaneous business and services, industrial and public/semi-public uses.

Parking area means a paved ground surface area used for the temporary parking and maneuvering of vehicles by employees or customers, either for compensation or to provide an accessory service to a commercial, industrial, institutional or residential use.

Paved ground surface area. See section 101-5.

Poodle cut means stripping off the lower branches of a tree and rounding or shearing the ends of the greenery to create an unnatural shape.

Required landscaped area means any landscaped area required in this Code.

Residential means all uses in R-1, R-2, R-3 and PUD zoning districts; one-family, two-family and multiple-family dwellings.

Shrub means a self-supporting woody species of plant characterized by persistent stems and branches springing from the base.

Specimen tree means a particularly fine or unusual example of any tree due to its age, size, rarity, environmental value or exceptional aesthetic quality. A tree may also be designated a specimen due to its association with historic events or persons. A specimen tree cannot be of a species that is unacceptable as referenced in list of exempt trees in this Code.

Tree means a self-supporting woody plant of a species that normally grows to a minimum overall height of 15 feet and has an average mature crown spread greater than 15 feet within the city.

Turf means upper layer of soil bound by grass and plant roots into a thick mat.

Understory, sub-canopy trees means trees which normally grow to a maximum overall height of 15 feet and an average mature crown spread of 15 feet.

Vehicular circulation area means streets, rights-of-way, access ways, parking spaces, parking, loading and unloading and other similar or related functions.

(Code 2001, § 98-232; Ord. No. O-08-2011, § 5, 12-6-2011; Ord. No. O-03-2017, exh. A(98-232), 1-24-2017)